Andrew Lloyd Webber in Sydney
David Spicer reports.
Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is in Sydney to watch Opera Australia’s new grand production of The Phantom of the Opera on the harbour, but poor weather is threatening to rain on his parade.
The superstar music theatre writer celebrated his 74th birthday in the harbour city and posted on Instagram in front of the Sydney Opera House.
“As you can see I am in Sydney waiting for a new production of The Phantom of the Opera and what a birthday present that is going to be,” he said.
Lord Lloyd Webber was interviewed by Richard Glover on ABC 702 and his interview can be found at the 1:35 mark at this link.
It has been a nervous time for the production.
They lost a whole week of production rehearsals due to heavy rain. This poses huge challenges for a new complicated outdoor production with cranes, a moving chandelier, fireworks and other special effects
The second last dress rehearsal (Wednesday night) was performed in front of a live audience, but the media was told not to take any photographs of the production.
It was a tech rehearsal which paused eight times to fix lighting and set gremlins.
We are happy to report that the live audience which saw the final dress rehearsal (Thursday) say it went much more smoothly and opening night was spectacular.
The Phantom of the Opera plays on Sydney Harbour until April 24, 2022.
Read our review here.